Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) Shares Bought by Merit Financial Group LLC

Merit Financial Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD - Free Report) by 31.7% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 14,635 shares of the consumer goods maker's stock after purchasing an additional 3,526 shares during the period. Merit Financial Group LLC's holdings in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV were worth $901,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Callan Capital LLC raised its stake in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 2.2% in the fourth quarter. Callan Capital LLC now owns 10,607 shares of the consumer goods maker's stock valued at $531,000 after buying an additional 229 shares during the last quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. raised its position in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 4.6% in the 4th quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 5,329 shares of the consumer goods maker's stock valued at $267,000 after purchasing an additional 234 shares during the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 25.7% in the 4th quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 1,298 shares of the consumer goods maker's stock worth $65,000 after purchasing an additional 265 shares in the last quarter. Balanced Rock Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 4.4% during the 4th quarter. Balanced Rock Investment Advisors LLC now owns 8,560 shares of the consumer goods maker's stock worth $429,000 after purchasing an additional 361 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Central Pacific Bank Trust Division increased its stake in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 2.9% during the 1st quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division now owns 13,525 shares of the consumer goods maker's stock valued at $833,000 after purchasing an additional 375 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 5.53% of the company's stock.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Stock Performance

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV stock traded up $0.54 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $71.70. 3,876,688 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,929,098. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $66.56 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $58.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a current ratio of 0.69. The firm has a market capitalization of $128.86 billion, a PE ratio of 22.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 0.85. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV has a fifty-two week low of $45.94 and a fifty-two week high of $71.95.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 8th. The consumer goods maker reported $0.81 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.77 by $0.04. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV had a return on equity of 15.29% and a net margin of 10.98%. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.75 EPS. The company's revenue was down 6.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV will post 3.37 earnings per share for the current year.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed an annual dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 6th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 7th were given a $1.0492 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, May 7th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.2%. This is an increase from Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV's previous annual dividend of $0.87. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV's dividend payout ratio is 24.35%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on BUD shares. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Sunday, May 18th. Berenberg Bank began coverage on Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. They set a "buy" rating for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their price target for the company from $70.10 to $88.00 in a research note on Monday, May 12th. BNP Paribas upgraded Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 30th. Finally, Argus upgraded Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $70.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and three have issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $71.50.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Company Profile

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV produces, distributes, exports, markets, and sells beer and beverages. It offers a portfolio of approximately 500 beer brands, which primarily include Budweiser, Corona, and Stella Artois; Beck's, Hoegaarden, Leffe, and Michelob Ultra; and Aguila, Antarctica, Bud Light, Brahma, Cass, Castle, Castle Lite, Cristal, Harbin, Jupiler, Modelo Especial, Quilmes, Victoria, Sedrin, and Skol brands.